There is evidence and records that the game of hockey has been around since the early days of civilization. The origins can be traced back to ancient cultures in Rome and Egypt as well as cultures in South America and Scotland. The object of the game is to use a stick held by the player to knock an object (usually a ball or a vulcanized rubber disc called a puck) into an opponents goal or net. There are several different forms of hockey that have spawned, evolved, and withstood the tests of time. Field hockey, roller hockey, dek hockey, and ice hockey are all popular in different parts of the world. Ice Hockey in particular has been increasing in popularity over the years due to the exposure of the sport, the olympics, and the sheer excitement and exotic appeal of the sport. How exactly does a sport that may have initially been played by a bunch of villagers running around with tree banches wacking a pine cone, develop into a fast sport requiring padded equipment, ice skates, and customized sticks? If we trace back the history of North America to the colonial days we can see that there were originally Indian (Native American) settlements that were eventually phased out by the arrival of European colonization. These Europeans brought with them their traditions, languages, sports, etc. Their version of hockey may have been played in a field, but it's a little hard to play hockey in a field in Canada when the grounds are frozen! As a result, the nature of the sport evolved and was adapted to be played in a colder climate. To this day, Canadians view hockey as "their" sport. Many of their children are born and bred to play hockey and their reward is 8 gold medals in the Olympics plus numerous silver and bronze medals.